Safety clasp construction

ABSTRACT

A safety clasp which ensures continued engagement of a bail end of a strap with the notched end of the strap, the clasp featuring a locking member attached to a cover which closes over the bail end when the latter is in the notch. The locking member is a spring rod doubled about itself so as to permit the bail end to compress it by camming when the locking member is passed through the bail. The doubling of the rod forms a bail-abutting surface that blocks the bail end from accidental movement along the cover towards the free end thereof. The spring rod is designed to allow deliberate compressing while simultaneously sliding the bail end thereover.

United States Patent Kian [54] SAFETY CLASP CONSTRUCTION [72] inventor: Leonard Klan, 1032 Sweet Street, NE,

Grand Rapids, Mich. 49505 [22] Filed: May 6,1970

[2|] Appl.No.: 35,148

[ 1 Julyl8, 1972 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Garry Moore Attorney-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper ABSTRACT A safety clasp which ensures continued engagement of a bail end of a strap with the notched end of the strap, the clasp featuring a locking member attached to a cover which closes over the bail end when the latter is in the notch. The locking member is a spring rod doubled about itself so as to permit the bail end to compress it by camming when the locking member is passed through the bail. The doubling of the rod forms a bail-abutting surface that blocks the bail end from accidental movement along the cover towards the free end thereof. The spring rod is designed to allow deliberate compressing while simultaneously sliding the bail end thereover.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,676,903

2 Sheets-Sheet l lll-llllll Z4 INVENTOR LEONARD KIAN ATTOR NEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,676,903

2 Sheets-Sheet .2

N Q a Q & INVENTOR H LEONARD KIAN ATTORNEYS SAFETY CLASP CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of clasps, a common difficulty experienced with those lacking a safety feature is the accidental unclasping of a portion thereof such as the cover. The result is the unwanted disconnection of the members so clasped, which in the case of bracelets, watchbands, and necklaces results in these items falling from the wearer.

Accordingly, attempts have been made to provide safety features on such clasps. One such safety feature comprises a lever mounted under the cover which is separately hinged on the same hinge as the cover. The lever has a separate catch and serves to hold the bail portion of the bands so clasped in place even in the event the cover is accidentally disengaged. An example of such a construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,5 l 8,7]6. The difficulty with such a construction is that the lever represents a separate catch which must be forcibly undone when a deliberate disengagement of the clasp is desired. When one considers the extremely small size of such clasps, such as clasps utilized for ladies watchbands or bracelets, it will be readily appreciated that the safety lever is engaged and unlocked only with great difficulty. An additional disadvantage resides in the fact that the unlocking step heretofore has been an additional separate step prior to the actual removal of the bail portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This disclosure concerns an improved clasp construction of the safety type such as can be utilized for watchbands, bracelets or necklaces. Specifically, there is provided a clasp or coupling for two ends of strip-like material, such as a watchband, the coupling comprising two portions hingedly connected together one of which is a cover and the other of which accommodates one of the ends of the strip-like material such as the bail end so that it extends around the cover. The cover is characterized by means for sliding the bail end thereover in only one direction, and means for releasing the sliding means to permit only deliberate sliding removal of the bail end in a direction opposite to the one direction. Such means conveniently can be an abutment member and a spring biasing the member away from the cover, the member being especially adapted to prevent a sliding disengagement of the bail end from the cover except when the spring is compressed so as to move the member toward the cover.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a clasp-like coupling of the safety type which is easily, deliberately unlocked but which prevents accidental unlocking.

It is a related object of the invention to provide such a coupling wherein the unlocking step can be accomplished at the same time as the bail portion of the strip-like material is being removed from the clasp.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the following drawings and detailed discussion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of a clasp constructed in accordance with the invention, the clasp being closed and locked;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, exploded plan view of the clasp of FIG. I in the opened position, illustrating the locking member holding the bail in the safety lock position;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the cover of the clasp;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base or covered portion of the clasp;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 except that the parts have been combined and the bail is shown in the process of attachment; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Vl-Vl of FIG. 5 except that the bail is now in the notch engaging position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention provides a clasp or coupling 10 for connecting two end sections I2 and I4 of any strip-like material 16 and 18 such as is utilized to form a bracelet, a watchband, or a necklace. The two-strip configuration shown, of course, is merely illustrative of one of numerous types of bands, necklaces, etc. with which the clasp which is the subject of this invention can be utilized. The strip-like materials 16 and 18 are conventionally joined together at their ends to form the end portions or sections 12 and 14. The end section 14 is conventionally provided with a bail 20 (FIG. I), while the end section 12 is conventionally provided with a notch 22 and a pair of upstanding cars 24 (FIG. 4) utilized to hinge a cover 26 to the end section 12 (FIG. 5). The end section I2 can be all one piece, or it can comprise two separate portions 28 and 30, the portion 28 being clamped to the material 16 and 18 while the portion 30 is hinged by a pintle 32 to the portion 28. A cross bar 34 connects the two sides of the rear portion of section 30 for cooperation with the cover 26. See FIGS. 4 and 6.) That is, the cover 26 is conventionally provided with a spring-like closure portion 38 at one end, the cover being provided at the other end with a hinged connection portion 40 which is mounted to the ears 24 by a rod or pin 42. The distance from the rod 42 to the closure portion 38 equals approximately the distance from the rod 42 to the cross bar 34, the cover pivoting in the direction of the arrow 44 for closing and opening the end section I2. Thus, it will be recognized that the clasp or coupling conventionally holds the bail 20 in the notch 22 when the cover 26 is closed over the cross bar 34, thus connecting the two end sections 12 and 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIGS. 5 and 6, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the clasp I0 is provided with a locking member 50 mounted upon the end section 12 and specifically on the cover 26. The locking member 50 comprises a flexible spring-like rod bent upon itself at the center to form a nose portion 52 which penetrates a slot 54 in the closure portion 38. From the nose portion 52, the two end pieces 56 and 58 extend back to the hinged connection portion 40 of the cover 26. Along the two end pieces 56 and 58, there are provided camming surfaces 60 and 62, an abutment surface 64 and spring portions 66 and 68. See especially FIG. 2.) Thus, the abutment portion 64 is located between the cam surfaces 60, 62 and the hinged connection portion 40 of the cover 26. It will be readily apparent that the abutment portion 64 and the spring portion 68 is formed by doubling each end piece 56 and 58 upon itself twice, the first doubling forming the abutment portion 64 and the second doubling at points 69 forming the spring portion 68.

Referring now to the camming surfaces 60 and 62, these surfaces join at a bend 70 in the end pieces 56 and 58, which bend is located to form a width which permits the bail 20 to slide thereover with the interior surfaces 72 of the bail in contact with especially the camming surface 62. It will be appreciated that the camming surfaces 60 and 62 extend gradually away from the cover 26, so that the bail surfaces 72 slide thereover only by compressing the spring portions 66 and 68 in a manner hereinafter described in greater detail.

With reference now to the abutment portion 64, the doubling upon itself of each of the end pieces 56 and 58 to form the abutment portion results in the formation of a bail abutting surface which is located in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the path of movement of the bail 20 as the bail slides over the cover 26 from the hinged connection portion 40 to the closure portion 38. This path of the bail is designated by the numeral 82 in FIG. 2. Thus, the bail abutting surface 80 faces the hinged connection portion 40 of the cover 26 in such a manner as to abut against the surface 84 of the bail 20 when the spring portions 66 and 68 of the locking member 50 are uncompressed. This ensures that the bail 20 cannot be slidably removed accidentally from the cover 26.

in accordance with another aspect of the invention. the hinged connection portion 40 of the cover 26 is provided by coiling the ends 90 of each of the end pieces 56 and 58 upon themselves (H08. 2 and 6), thereby forming a collar having an opening 92 into which the pin 42 slides to connect the cover 26 to the cars 24 of the end section 12.

The entire locking member 50 including the ends 90 forming the collar in the hinged connection 40 are preferably formed from a flexible elastic metal such as spring steel. Any conventional method can be used to attach the locking member 50 to the undersurface of the cover 26. For example, the locking member could be attached by welding. It will be readily appreciated that the connection of the locking member 50 to the undersurface of the cover extends only from the collar formed by the ends 90 along the straight portions of the end pieces 56 and 58 to a pointjust short of the bend 69 in each of the pieces. The remainder of the locking member 50 must be free of the connection in order to flex to allow movement of the bail 20 with respect thereto.

USE

The method of use of the clasp or coupling 10 of the invention will now be described. Referring especially to FIGS. 2 and 5, attach the bail to the end piece 12 and specifically to slide it into the notch 22, the bail 20 is first slid over the free end of the cover 26, the closure portion 38 being sufficiently short in length to allow the bail 20 to slip thereover. When the bail 20 reaches the point of the bend 70 in the locking member 50, the surfaces 72 of the bail contact the camming surfaces 60 and 62 so as to compress the spring portions 66 and 68, thereby forcing the locking member 50 to move in the direction of the arrows [00. This permits the bail 20 to slidably move in the direction of the arrows 102(FlG. 5) so as to proceed from the closure portion 38 to the hinged connecting portion 40 and thence into the notch 22. The cover 26 is then closed with the closure portion 38 being force fit over the cross bar 34.

To uncouple the end section 14 from the section 12, the nose portion 52 of the locking member 50 is forced upwardly by the finger nail or the like, lifting the closure portion 38 off the cross bar 34. The cover 26 pivots about the pin 42 away from the portions 28 and 30 of the end section 12. The bail 20 is then free to move out of the notch 22. However, if the cover 26 should be lifted from the portion 28 of the end section 12 accidentally, the bail 20 still cannot be slidably removed from the cover 26 because of the abutment of the surface 80 of the abutment portion 64 against the surface 84 of the bail (FIG. 2). The unclasping or uncoupling cannot be completed until the spring portions 66 and 68 are compressed. In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, this is preferably done simultaneously while slipping or sliding the bail 20 over the abutment portion 64.

In the case of a watchband, it will be appreciated that this simultaneous compression of the spring and sliding of the bail can be accomplished by the forefinger and the thumb of the user's hand. Thus, there is no need for an unlocking step separate and apart from the removal step wherein the bail is completely removed from the cover 26.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended that it be limited thereto. It is intended, rather, that the invention cover all arrangements, equivalents, and alternate embodiments which may be included within the scope of the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1V in a clasp having two releasably engageable sections adapted to join the ends of a bracelet or the like together, one such section terminating in a bail and the other such section being provided with a notch adapted to accommodate said bail; a locking member mounted on said other section; the improvement comprising compressible means on said locking member rendering said member impassable through said bail when uncompressed, said means being compressible into a size which will permit passage of said bail thereover. said compressible means having a bail-abutting surface adapted to prevent disengagement of said sections when joined, and a camming surface projecting into the path of passage of said bail onto said member, said bail camming said means into compressed condition as it slides along said camming surface toward said notch, said butting surface being located between said camming surface and said notch, whereby said other end section may be engaged by said bail by forcing the latter over said camming surface as said bail is moved toward said notch.

2. The improved clasp as defined in claim I, and further including a cover having at one end a closure portion adapted to cooperate with said other section for closing said clasp and at the other end means for hinging said cover to said other section at a point adjacent to said notch, said member being attached to said cover so that said camming surface is located between said abutting surface and said closure portion.

3. The improved clasp as defined in claim 2, and further including a second bail-abutting surface and a second camming surface on said member, said second camming surface being located between said second abutting surface and said closure portion.

4. The improved clasp as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said camming surfaces and each of said abutment surfaces project from opposite sides of said cover when said means is uncompressed.

5v In a clasp having two releasably engageable sections adapted to join the ends ofa bracelet or the like together, one such section terminating in a bail and the other such section being provided with a notch adapted to accommodate said bail; the improvement comprising a locking member mounted on said other section, said locking member including compressible means rendering said member impassable through said bail when uncompressed, said means being compressible into a size which will permit passage of said ball thereover; a cover having a closure portion at one end adapted to cooperate with said other section for closing said clasp; and means at the other end of said cover for hinging said cover to said other section at a point adjacent to said notch, said member being attached to said cover with said abutting surface located at a point between said closure portion and said hinging means.

6. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said hinging means includes a collar formed by one end of said member coiled upon itself.

7. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said member is a flexible spring-like rod doubled upon itself so as to extend two end pieces from said closure portion to said hinging means, at least one of said end pieces also being doubled upon itself at least once so as to provide said bail-abutting surface.

8. The improved clasp as defined in claim 7, wherein said end pieces extend from a nose section located approximately in the center of said rod, said nose section projecting beyond said closure portion so as to be readily engageable for lifting said cover.

9. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said member further includes a nose section projecting beyond said closure portion so as to be readily engageable for lifting said cover.

10. A coupling for two ends of strip-like material, said coupling comprising two portions hingedly connected together, one of which is a cover and the other of which accommodates one of said ends so that the latter extends around said cover, said cover being characterized by an abutment member and a spring biasing said member away from said cover, said member preventing sliding disengagement of said one end from around said cover except when said spring is compressed so as to move said member toward said cover; camming means for compressing said spring toward said cover when said one end is moved toward said hinged connection,

said camming means including an extension of said spring extending gradually away from said cover into the path of said one end as it moves toward said hinged connection.

11. The coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein said member is an extension of said carnming means, bent so as to form a plane surface extending generally perpendicular to said path and facing toward said connection.

12. The coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein said member is a portion of said spring bent so as to form a plane surface extending generally perpendicular to the path followed by said one end when moved away from said hinged connection, said surface facing said connection.

13. A coupling for two ends of strip-like material, said coupling comprising a section attached to one of said ends, said section having two portions hingedly connected together, one portion of which is a cover and the other portion of which accommodates the other of said ends so that said other end passes around and over said cover to seat in said other portion, said cover being characterized by means for sliding said other end over and around said cover only in one direction, and

means for releasing said sliding means so as to permit only deliberate sliding removal of said other end from said cover in the opposite direction from said one direction.

14. The coupling as defined in claim 13, wherein said one direction extends from the free end of said cover to said hinged connection.

15. In a clasp having a first section adapted for attachment to an extremity of a bracelet or the like, said first section including a bail means, and a second section adapted for attachment to the other extremity of said bracelet or the like, a first portion of said second section being receivable through said bail means in said first section, said portion being hingedly foldable back upon a second portion of said second section to retain said extremities together, the improvement comprising: said first portion including resilient means enlarging said first portion such that the same is incapable of passage through said bail means, said resilient means being compressible to permit passage of said first portion through said bail means. 

1. In a clasp having two releasably engageable sections adapted to join the ends of a bracelet or the like together, one such section terminating in a bail and the other such section being provided with a notch adapted to accommodate said bail; a locking member mounted on said other section; the improvement comprising compressible means on said locking member rendering said member impassable through said bail when uncompressed, said means being compressible into a size which will permit passage of said bail thereover, said compressible means having a bail-abutting surface adapted to prevent disengagement of said sections when joined, and a camming surface projecting into the path of passage of said bail onto said member, said bail camming said means into compressed condition as it slides along said camming surface toward said notch, said butting surface being located between said camming surface and said notch, whereby said other end section may be engaged by said bail by forcing the latter over said camming surface as said bail is moved toward said notch.
 2. The improved clasp as defined in claim 1, and further including a cover having at one end a closure portion adapted to cooperate with said other section for closing said clasp and at the other end means for hinging said cover to said other section at a point adjacent to said notch, said member being attached to said cover so that said camming surface is located between said abutting surface and said closure portion.
 3. The improved clasp as defined in claim 2, and further including a second bail-abutting surface and a second camming surface on said member, said second camming surface being located between said second abutting surface and said closure portion.
 4. The improved clasp as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said camming surfaces and each of said abutment surfaces project from opposite sides of said cover when said means is uncompressed.
 5. In a clasp having two releasably engageable sections adapted to join the ends of a bracelet or the like together, one such section terminating in a bail and the other such section being provided with a notch adapted to accommodate said bail; the improvement comprising a locking member mounted on said other section, said locking member including compressible means rendering said member impassable through said bail when uncompressed, said means being compressible into a size which will permit passage of said bail thereover; a cover having a closure portion at one end adapted to cooperate with said other section for closing said clasp; and means at the other end of said cover for hinging said cover to said other section at a point adjacent to said notch, said member being attached to said cover with said abutting surface located at a point between said closure portion and said hinging means.
 6. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said hinging means includes a collar formed by one end of said member coiled upon itself.
 7. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said member is a flexible spring-like rod doubled upon itself so as to extend two end pieces from said closure portion to said hinging means, at least one of said end pieces also being doubled upon itself at least once so as to provide said bail-abutting surface.
 8. The improved clasp as defined in claim 7, wherein said end pieces extend from a nose section located approximately in the center of said rod, said nose section projecting beyond said closure portion so as to be readily engageable for lifting said cover.
 9. The improved clasp as defined in claim 5, wherein said member further includes a nose section projecting beyond said closure portion so as to be readily engageable for lifting said cover.
 10. A coupling for two ends of strip-like material, said coupling comprising two portions hingedly connected together, one of which is a cover and the other of which accommodates one of said ends so that the latter extends around said cover, said cover being characterized by an abutment member and a spring biasing said member away from said cover, said member preventing sliding disengagement of said one end from around said cover except when said spring is compressed so as to move said member toward said cover; camming means for compressing said spring toward said cover when said one end is moved toward said hinged connection, said camming means including an extension of said spring extending gradually away from said cover into the path of said one end as it moves toward said hinged connection.
 11. The coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein said member is an extension of said camming means, bent so as to form a plane surface extending generally perpendicular to said path and facing toward said connection.
 12. The coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein said member is a portion of said spring bent so as to form a plane surface extending generally perpendicular to the path followed by said one end when moved away from said hinged connection, said surface facing said connection.
 13. A coupling for two ends of strip-like material, said coupling comprising a section attached to one of said ends, said section having two portions hingedly connected together, one portion of which is a cover and the other portion of which accommodates the other of said ends so that said other end passes around and over said cover to seat in said other portion, said cover being characterized by means for sliding said other end over and around said cover only in one direction, and means for releasing said sliding means so as to permit only deliberate sliding removal of said other end from said cover in the opposite direction from said one direction.
 14. The coupling as defined in claim 13, wherein said one direction extends from the free end of said cover to said hinged connection.
 15. In a clasp having a first section adapted for attachment to an extremity of a bracelet or the like, said first section including a bail means, and a second section adapted for attachment to the other extremity of said bracelet or the like, a first portion of said second section being receivable through said bail means in said first section, said portion being hingedly foldable back upon a second portion of said second section to retain said extremities together, the improvement comprising: said first portion including resilient means enlarging said first portion such that the same is incapable of passage through said bail means, said resilient means being compressible to permit passage of said first portion through said bail means. 